“First, I would like to thank the Mayor and the City Administrator for proposing a subsidy that supports the mission of the housing authority and provides affordable housing for over 4,000 low-income District of Columbia families. Additionally, this subsidy request will also help the housing authority maintain its public safety program that is designed to support our public housing management operations and complement the efforts of the Metropolitan Police Department,” Bovelle said.

The FY 2018 DCHA subsidy totals $76.3 million. Of that, $4.2 million will support public safety efforts in and around DCHA’s public housing communities. This public safety initiative began in the late 1990s with the goal of improving DCHA’s ability to be an effective landlord and to assist crime prevention and reduction. DCHA’s public safety force works closely with the Metropolitan Police Department and is a key part of DCHA’s management operations.

“I am pleased to advise that the $4.2 million allocation includes the additional $200,000 provision made in Fiscal 2017 to support targeted patrols that DCHA is undertaking in response to criminal activities,” Bovelle said. “On behalf of the entire DCHA Team, and the almost 20,000 housing residents we serve, we thank you for your continued support.”

The remaining $72.1 million included in the funding request supports the Local Rent Supplement Program, a locally-funded voucher program, and D.C. Local, which is a smaller rental assistance initiative. Together these programs provide ongoing rental assistance for more than 4,000 low-income families and individuals living in the District of Columbia. The Mayor’s proposed Fiscal 2018 budget includes $6.3 million in new funding for the Local Rent Supplement Program that will fund Targeted Affordable Housing and Permanent Supportive Housing as part of of the Homeward D.C. plan.

“In a time when capital dollars are low and maintenance needs continue to rise, we are truly thankful for the Council’s action in creating the Repair and Maintenance Fund. Thanks to this action in the last budget cycle, DCHA was able to convert unspent Local Rent Supplement Program dollars into capital funds for repair and maintenance needs in our public housing communities,” Bovelle said.

The Repair and Maintenance Fund made $15 million of unspent Local Rent Supplement Program funds available for public housing repair and maintenance in public housing. The funds are used to address long standing capital needs at DCHA sites This includes making major improvements to the heating and cooling systems at Highland Additions and also making unit and site improvements at Kelly Miller and Garfield Terrace.

“I am pleased that DCHA is expected to once again be able to convert the unspent Housing Authority Subsidy to fund repairs at our public housing sites,” Bovelle said. “I am excited that we will continue to serve affordable housing needs here in the city through this vehicle and I thank you, Chairperson Bonds and the Council for implementing this provision.”

Bovelle and other DCHA officials then took questions and comments from the committee.